Bombs, bullets greet CM and team at Ukhrul, inauguration programme aborted
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, October 24 2016: Gunfire, bombs and intense protest greeted Chief Minister O Ibobi and his team when the chopper carrying them landed at Bakshi ground at Ukhrul district headquarters forcing them to return home without inaugurating some projects today.

The attack on the Chief Minister and his team came amid the boycott call issued by the Tangkhul Naga Long and the projects to be inaugurated included the district hospital, 132/32 KV sub-station, 33/11 KV sub-station, SDO/BDO office and banks.

Volunteers of Tangkhul Naga Long, incensed that the Chief Minister and his team had tried to violate the boycott call set afire two vehicles.

Two IRB jawans were injured in four bomb explosions which started from about 12.10 am today.

Bombs, bullets greet CM and team at Ukhrul

According to sources, suspected NSCN (IM) cadres lobbed two hand grenades at personnel of 4th IRB personnel injuring one personnel identified as T Milan at about 12.10 am. The 4th IRB personnel were stationed at Ukhrul about a week back ahead of the Chief Minister's visit, said sources.

Of the four bombs which exploded in quick succession, one exploded near the district hospital at Hungpung at about 4 am.

The bomb explosions as well as the firing when the chopper carrying the CM was taking off came despite the intense security measures taken up with the Assam Rifles given the task of area domination, said sources.

Following the series of bomb blasts and the firing, the inauguration programme of the district hospital, 132/22 KV sub-station, 33/11 KV sub-station, SDO/BDO office and bank has been cancelled while the inauguration of the SDO/BDO office and bank at LM Block at Teinem village has also been deferred.

As the chopper carrying the CM and his men (Dy CM Gaikhangam, Commerce and Industries Minister K Govindas, Forest Minister I Hemochandra, Deputy Speaker Preshaw Shimray and Parliamentary Secretary Victor Keishing) landed at Bakshi ground, the protest against the visit intensified and TNL volunteers started burning tyres on the road to prevent and obstruct the movement of the CM and his men.

The CM and his team waited for one hour to get the route to the district hospital cleared where tyres put up by TNL volunteers were put on fire stretching for over 600 metres.

However following stiff opposition from the TNL volunteers, clearing the route was not possible.

Ultimately the CM and his team had to abort the plan and were again airborne to proceed towards Chingai to inaugurate the BDO/SDO office.

Just as the chopper was air borne, some firing started which last for more than ten minutes and in which one MR personnel identified as William Tarao was injured.

William who suffered bullet injuries on the left arm and abdomen was immediately evacuated to 41 Assam Rifles hospital at Somsai.

The CM and his team however did not land at Chingai and reportedly proceeded towards Imphal.

Incensed TNL volunteers also set ablaze 2 security vehicles including one Gypsy and a Bolero parked at the roadside.

It is not yet clear who fired the shot at the helipad.

Security personnel immediately cordoned off the area and conducted search operation.

After some time the situation was brought under control but till the time of filing this report tension ran high.

TNL president Weapon Zimik expressed shock at the firing incident and added that the report about the firing is doubtful.

The public curfew which was imposed by the TNL to boycott the visit of the CM came to an end at 4 pm.